Interchangeable sign



Nave 9, 1943. GREENWALD EU I 2,334,083

INTERCHANGEABLE SIGN Filed Dec. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Max Grec zwardd Z85 Sacks 9, 1943- M. GREENWALD ETAL. 2,334,083

IN TERCHANGEABLE S IGN Filed Dec. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 {6 l AI v INVENTORS Max Gr'eanwcrld BY Ila Jack? ATTOk/VA'Y fort-h.

Application Beet-litter5,:194Lfsri5iNo.142Ls66' 1 This invention relatesto new and usefulnimprovements in interchangeable: price: card I More specifically, the invention* proposesf'the construction of an A interchangeable price fcard' sign characterized by a container having a top window opening with a; plurality of F sign: units disposed there-beneath in a -manner. to permit a-desired numerical value to-be displayedthrough the window opening. I H Still further it is proposed to characterize each ber supporting a pair of adjacent rollers-carry;

' line 3 -3'of Fig. 1. v

ing' a sign strip imprinted successively with numerals ranging from l -to9-an'd arrang'edso that the ends of T the} strip may berolled upon either of the rollers to display a d'esi-re'd number across the top face of the U-shaped member. Aiurther' object of the invention proposes the provision of 'openings in' one side wall of -the container through which a crank 'or toolinaybe inserted ior 'engagementwi'th therollers to tfa'ci-li tate' the rotation strip. 1 l

Still further-1it is-proposed tomount the' sign: I units upontracks arranged a manner to cori nect these units together ror 'unitary-irisertion thereof fori advancingthe'sign' into the container through the open ends'thei eof: v

A furtherjobject of the invention proposes the provision of removably mounted enda'wallsforthe 1 container arranged ;to c1ose the ends of fthe: container after the sign units hav been -inserted therein.

Still further acarryinga" single" sign strip 'and provided *with a means for-resilientlyurging "the U-shaped mem-l hers; apart -pe'rmitting-sign-f-units 'of difierent-size sto be used within a container-with resilient means arranged to spread the signf units throughout ma lman or the-invention proposes to characterize each of" the sign -units by a pairof-adjacent inverted" U-sharied' members I Fig. :4 is a: sectiona1::view :taken on the line 4 '4"ofFig. 3. r

' JFig.'5 is a perspective view of aepoTtion of the sign; units removedzfrom the container.

Ji-wFig; 6 is a perspective view of one "offtheiin-i.

verted U- shap'edA members, se.

- 'F'i '7 is a p rspective viewofxone endrof the signstrip, per se. v r t v i Figfi8 i an enlarged sectional"viewstakenion .th elline 8-'-"-.BofFig. 7. i a V """I'Fig; 9 "is an i end elevational :view Jof the con-- tainer. i 1

i Figw10 is a perspectivefview of the tape,:per se. -Fig. 11 is aiplan viewsimilarwtoFi'g'. lrbuttillustrating an interchangeable pric'e card sign constructed according: to a "modification 'of': the invention. I a

Fig: 12 isra reariv iew of Fig; 11.

1 Fig. 1131s: an end elevation'al- -view looking in the direction' of the 1ineJl-3-'- l3 of'Fig. 1 1. 7

Fig, 14 is a view looking in "the? direction rl'of the line IA-HlofFigIllQ r I Fig. 1 15 isl an vel'evationa'l view 1 or the =s'ign :units,

p'errse. 1 L i r Fig. 16 is a plan view "ofFig. 5.

Eig; 17 is a-plan view of an interchangeable price cardsign constructed acoording' to a 'still further imodification of the invention. a

' The interchangeable "price card s'ign -according to this inventionyincludes a container! 0 constructed of a strip of sheet metal. This strip of rsheet metal is bent to have a'bottom w'aHHl and upwardly extending inwardly inclinedside wane ll 2 which-continue into inwardly extending top wall portioris l3. 'The inwardly extending top Wa1l:portions* l 3 have theiredges spaced froin each other forming a top window opening ll for the container lll. The endsyof the-top wan theentire interior capac'ity of the containerslff 1 For further comprehension of this" invention,

and ofthe objects and advantages thereof,- ref renceqwill be nadt'o *thfollowirig s wn-anon; and-accompanying drawings, and to the appendedclaimsin which the various noveljea ture's 'of the invention' are "more particularly s'et -In the accompanying drawings" forming j'a mat'erial part of this disclosure: F a

'Fig. I is e plan viewof aninterchangeable' price card sign constructed in accordance with this i mji n- 1 wEig-ikmis a bottom view of Fig?1.- L

S-shaped "strips l5. More' specifically; "strips-"of sheet metal :are:bent} into an s'shape and have l the top loop :of their forms: engaging on the: ends Fig.1l3. Solder I6 securely attaches theS-shaped members?! 5 to. the ends 10f the-"top wall portions I3JA Ihe S-Shaped strips- 15 formithe sidesof the window opening l 4= and are so arranged that the" ends of the containers ID are open. A-strip of transparent-material; M closes thewindow a vertical sectional iview -taken on. the

such that. ,thei r ends are,accessible.throughopena.. ings 24 formed in one of the sidewalls l2 of the container H3. The alignment of the shanks 22 With the openings 24 permits the engagement of 3 a turning tool 25 through the openings 24 and" into the shanks 22 which are of a flattened tubu lar construction. The turning tool 25 shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 comprisesa crank H Which has a flattened inner end engageable into theshanks 22 so as to facilitate the rotation. of."

the rollers. 3

A sign strip 26 has its ends mounted on the rollersZl and its-intermediate, portion extended against the top face of the topnwall. 26 of the inverted U-shaped member I8. The. sign strip .26, is preferably a length of cloth material provided across one-face-with digits 2'! ranging from 1 to 9, and suchfother indices as may be necessary for] indicating the particular numerical value of an article upon which thezprice card sign is used. The arrangement ofthep-digits 21 is such that they may be brought successively in position upon the top'face of the top wall to be viewed through the window opening.l4 .as shown inFig.

1.- a .The ends of the sign strip are imprinted with the Words End of tape reverse to indicate to theoperator that :it is necessary to roll the tape inthe opposite direction and .prevent the disengagement of the tape from-the rollers. all/leans is provided for'securely attaching the ends of the side strip 26 to the shanks 22 of the rollers 2|. T0,.accomplish thisthe ends of the sigrrstrip. 26 are, engaged about ,the shanks 22 and small metallic strips 28 are clampedzabout thegen'ds o'fthe sign strip 2T-securely. attaching these ends to the shanks 22: .(see; Fig. 8). I

Means isz-provided'for securely attaching 'the inverted U-shaped members 18 together as a unit to facilitate their insertion intothe container. l0 throughone of theendst- This means-comprises tracks, 29. into which the bottom ends of the arms I9 are inserted", These tracks 29 areconstructed of, lengths ofsheet metal which are bent into a iU.-,shape toirictionally engage the faces of the andrfrictionally bear, against the inner face of the bottom wall'l vl'. 1.

Means is provided forsupporting thecontainer Ill from abracket (notfshown on the drawings) supported upon a; store shelf orv other similar surface. This; means comprises'a U-sha-ped clip 32 pivotally supportedgupona bracket 33. The bracket .33, is welded, braized vor-in any other manner securely attached to the outside "face of the bottom wall: of the container); Y

I The interchangeable price card. sign jisiused in the following mannerL'I'he clip 32 is engaged with a bracket to support the sign in position with; relation to an article upon which the sign is used I. .to indicate the numerical price value thereofi: The price of the article is brought into view' with relation to the window opening in the following Let us assume that the "price of the 1 1 article is 12 a 1b.,asshown in Fig. '1, and that ii the sign strips must be. .adjustedto bring this ank '25 .15 passed through theprope opening 2'4'toengag'e manner.

numerical; value into .Th'e

the shank 22 of the' proper roller of the first signunit. Thecrank is then rotated to shift the 7 Sign. strip toi bring the digit I of the first sign unit cintoposition with the window opening 14. The .crank 25 is then withdrawn and inserted into the opening 24 of the next adjacent sign unit.

The roller ofthe sign .unit isrotated to bring the digit 2 into position. Thecrank 25 isagain withdrawn and inserted into the proper opening- 2..Offth9thi1d sign unitLgThe'crank is. turned to shiftgthe position of the sign strip of thisthirq, unit to bring the word lb. into position with relation to:the window opening I4, The,posi- I I tioning of the sign .strips is. then completed and to I change ;,the numerical price value exposed through the window opening: M-the above pro cedure isagain followed.-

' According to'the modification of the invention T l shown in Figs. 11-16 the construction jof-.the in g a terchangeable pricecard sign is characterizedby v acontainer ID of aslightly different shape and provided, with ameans for supporting the same I I in a position-about an article upon which it isff used. In this-form of the invention the bottom wall ll; of the container/l0 hasa strip 40 se-.,. curely attached thereto. with its ends projected beyond onesidethereof and bent intoa loop H; A; rod42 is adapted tobe passedlthrough the loop 4| for suspending the container .10 abovei a de-: sir d rticle. 4:1 .1; V The bottom} end {of the; strip, 40 pivotally 1 supports an arrow 43 upon afpin flw The arrow ll;

is used to point downwards and is pivotally sum ported to be -moved.out ofits extended position tojree the adjacent sidewall-J 2 to facilitate the.

, rotationgof the'crank 25:.Wh6n passed into this side wall. I s

This form of the inventionis alsoprovided agnovel type of sigmunit 11.. in which; each "sign; unit has; a pair of adjacent invertedgu-shapedi members l8. ,eachof. whichsupports-a roller 2L1" Thus two inverted U-shaped membersmake'up, Min Sign unit f an the; n ip. has,

one of itsends secured to the rollerof one of-the of fihe i n ri 26v stse u qi tQ-t l r--llcf t. Y I the adjacent inverted U-shapedymember; ll.-

Means. i ov de I9 s n l' .1 in er ed, Li -shaped members l 8" oi;;one sign unit l1 into. va iou v i lde s ons s m a c ma ses str ps P metal 5 hi h h one o t eir;

ends attached to the inside face of; the armsy l 8 of the. inverted U -sh aped members 8.; Thespring 41 has its ends attached to the endsgof:

the strips projected through the slots 46 and tends to draw the ends of; the stripfidtogether folj'thgi.

hers 81: a The bottom ends purpose of spreading theinverted uzshaped memof the inverted u-siiaiii members [8' frifll 'iflna en aseiintoztheiitrri ki 1 Splfln gSB W; BR7513113110106. greaterzthanathe. tional engagement; of '1 the? arms; 1 .ilzywithin :thec

' elongated slot 24, through which the end of the rightis reserved to all changes and modifications claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: a

formedwith a top window opening and an openbetween theside arms or each of said U-shaped" turning tool, a sign striphaving its ends mounted of said U-shaped portions to be viewable through said top window opening, and means urging said aseaosegqz 2911' The? frictional engagementrofl theseimembersi does not.iexceed;.thecdegreeierequiredrtoiholdrther'i tracks: :in: position upon: thevsider. arms: The"- tracks 1:29.: so; as to :=cau'se the; .invertedo-u-shape members ttfpto. be; spread-in spiterof. their .fricec tional engagementi-withm the"; tracks; 29:? These 1' signunits- H. are. formed of separatesinvertedzy U-shaped. membersiIB' permitting.)'anygdesired: number of sign units to be: engagediwithin'eth containerlilf with thesprings:exertingwforc tending to spreading; thewsignx-unitsito xcenten themselvesthroughouti the entire interior capacity of the container; lfl.. -and.fill the entire space thereof. a I p The side wall I2 of the container llladjacent one sidecf the sign units is provided with an 3 springs. aoper'atin'g; between: said: bent en'dsr L unit,lsaid. signlunit' comprising iawp'airrof. adjacent:

on said rollers and its intermediate portion-extended across the face of said intermediate arms of said U-shaped portions to be viewable through said top window opening, and means urging said U-shape portions apart to locate them centrally within said container," and means connecting said U-shaped portions together in end alignment to limit saidfirst means to move said portions away from each other only. a 4. An interchangeable sign 'having a container formed with atop Window opening'and an opening in a side wall thereof and enclosinga sign crank or tool may be inserted to be engaged with the shanks 22 'of the rollers 2|; In other respects this form of the invention is'similar to the previous form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals. v

In this form of the invention shown in Fig.1? the construction of the interchangeable price card sign is similar to that shown in Fig. 1, except for the provision of a slightly different means for sup-- porting the sign in position upon an articleupon which the sign is being used to indicate its price. In this form of the invention thecontainer IU of the sign is provided with a pointed element having a flattened top end 5i securely soldered to the bottom wall I l of the [container H]. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous forms.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our' invention, ity is, to be understood that we do not limitourselves'to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the inverted U-shaped portions, a rolled mounted between'the side arms'of each of said U-shaped portions and each havingv one of its ends aligned with said'side Wall openingto be engaged by a turning tool, a sign striphaving its ends mounted on'said rollers and its intermediate portion extendedacross the face of said intermediate arms of said U-shaped portions to be viewable through said top window opening, and means urging said .U-shaped portions apart to locate them centrally said -U- shaped portions together in end alignment to limit said first means to move 'said porcoming within the'scope of the invention-as de- 2 tions, away from each other only, comprising fined in the appended claims. I I

Having thus-described our inventiomwhatwe upon thefree ends of the arms of said U-shaped portions. n 5. An interchangeable sign having a container formed with a top window opening andan opening in a side wall thereof and enclosing a sign 1. An interchangeable sign having a container ing in a sidewall thereofand enclosing a sign unit, said sign unit comprising a pairflof adja-f inverted-U-shaped portions,*a roller'mounted becent inverted U-shaped portions, a roller mounted portionscand each having one of its ends aligned portions and each having 'one if its-ends aligned with said side wall opening to be engaged by a I with said sidewall opening to be engaged by a on said rollers "and its intermediate portion extended across the face of said intermediate arms of said U-shaped portionsto be viewable through said topwindow opening, and means urging said U-shaped portions apart to locate them centrally Within said containensaid side wall opening being in the form of an-elongated slot so that the on said rollers and its intermediate portion'em tended across the face of said intermediate arms said top window opening, and means urging said U-shaped portions apart to locatethem centrally within said container. i 2. An interchangeable sign having a container formed with a top window opening and an opening in aside wall thereof and enclosinga sign unit, said signunit comprising apair of adjacent, inverted U-shaped portions, a rollermounted between the side arms of each of said U-shaped portions andeach having one of its ends, aligned with said-side wall opening to be engaged by a turning tool, a sign strip havingits ends mounted on said rollers and its intermediate portion extended across the face of said-intermediate arms of said U-shaped portionstobe' viewable through opening in all positions of said portions within said' container.

6. An interchangeable sign having a container formed with a top window opening and an opening in a side wall thereof and enclosing a sign unit, said sign unit comprising a pair of adjacent inverted 'Ll-shaped. portions, a roller mounted portions and each havingone of its ends aligned with said side wall opening to be engaged by a turning tool,'a sign striphaving its ends mounted on'said, rollers and its intermediate portion extended across the face of said intermedi- U-shaped portions apart to locate them centrally turning tool, a sign strip having its ends mounted withinusaid :container: comprising stripszofiametaii: having one. f :.thei1r ends' HtlIWCHBdJIOibIlEJOifSaid? inverted: u -shapedtportions .an'd theirifree ends; bentitorbe; extended? .throughislots: formed int-trier; other of said U-shapedzportions, and contraction-1.;

3:.- Anzxinterchangeablei signzhavin'ga container ingain a 'sidei-wall. thereof?:andaenclosing" aisign". i

invertediueshaped:portions; a: roller mounted bee. 1 tween;theisideiarmsiofseachiof;said;..Ueshaped f portions 'andreachihavingzone;ofzitszendsaligned: withisaid side. wall: opening itoibec enga'gedjirbyza: i turningito'olaa'sign .striprhaVingiitszendsirnountedi.

unit, said sign unit comprising a pair of adjacent within. said container, and means connecting tracks of U-shaped'strips of materialengaged unit, 'said si'gn unit comprising a pair of adjacent tween'the side arms of each of said U-shaped said ends of said rollers will be aligned with the between the. side arms of each of said U-shaped I able through said top window ropening, and: means controlled by a con'tractionspring urging" saidIU-shaped portions apart to locate them cen-"tp,

7. An interchangeable price card-sign having";

trally within said container..;

a container formed with: a top window opening and anopening in a side wall thereof and enclos-H mounted'between the side arms of each of'said' U-shaped portions and each havingione of; its ends. aligned with said side wall openingto be engaged by a turning tool, a; sign strip having. its ends mounted on=said rollers and its intermesing a sign unit, said sign unit comprising a pair. of adjacent inverted U-shaped portions, a-rolleraalo diateiportion' extended across the ..face'' of said intermediate' arms of "said v.Usha'pe'd portions to i be viewablethroughr said top window opening; i I 'stripsjof, metal having one of'theirends attached :to'thesi'deiarm's of said vU-shaped. portions, said strips of metal 'havingtheirfree" endsidirectedw. towards. the otherlu-shaped portion and bent at. righti'angles thereto and projected throughielonated..l slots:-formed in saidxU-shape'd' portions, and s'pring; "operating 'between the free ends" of 1 saidstrip'slofTmetal'to draw said ends 'togetherf v and sp'readsaid-UV-shaped portions to locate them-1:

centrally withi'nisaid container.

i i :Q ELrsAoKs. 11;;

. 'MAx'oREENwALn, 

